[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23664]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 ON THE RETIREMENT OF MICHAEL P. DEVINE

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2004

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the 
attention of my colleagues the recent retirement of an accomplished 
administrator, skilled scientist, and true patriot. Michael P. Devine 
of Sparta, New Jersey ended 36 years of dedicated service to our Nation 
on November 4 as he retired as Director of the United States Army 
Research, Development and Engineering Command ARDEC, headquartered at 
Picatinny Arsenal.
  Situated on a 6,500-acre military installation, located in Rockaway 
Township, New Jersey, Picatinny Arsenal plays a unique role in the 
United States' ability to wage war. There is no other comprehensive 
armaments facility like it in the country. The base is a one-of-a-kind 
facility that provides virtually all of the lethal mechanisms used in 
Army weapon systems and those of the other military services. This 
unique facility requires special leadership.
  Mike Devine became ARDEC Director in June 2004. As director, he 
exercised complete responsibility for all the activities at ARDEC. From 
September 2000 to June 2004, he was Technical Director of ARDEC, 
responsible for all technical matters. He managed an annual budget in 
excess of $600 million dollars and supervised a technical staff of 
approximately 1,700 scientists and engineers and 900 support personnel.
  As ARDEC Technical Director, and later as Director of ARDEC, Mike 
Devine provided critically important leadership--leadership that 
provided our joint warfighters with the tools they need to prosecute 
the international war on terrorism, to fight and win the war in Iraq 
and Afghanistan and protect and secure our homeland. During his tenure 
alone, 103 separate new armament products were released to soldiers and 
other services members. So far in 2004, 17 urgent fieldings of military 
equipment for use by forces in Iraq and Afghanistan were approved by 
Devine.
  These fieldings have broad scope and include weapon systems, fire 
control and munitions for artillery, mortars, tanks and infantry, as 
well as alternatives to anti-personnel land mines, non lethal munitions 
and environmental research and development.
  Mr. Devine worked as a research physicist prior to assuming 
significant management responsibility. Over the course of his career, 
his experience in the Army and Office of the Secretary of Defense 
spanned virtually all Army weapons systems and associated ammunition. 
He has been the recipient of numerous awards including two Army 
Research and Development Achievement Awards, the Army Meritorious 
Civilian Service Award, Association of the United States Army Citation 
for Exceptional Service in Support of National Defense, the American 
Defense Preparedness Association Firepower Award for Management. He has 
also been inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. He holds 
two patents and has authored numerous open literature technical 
publications.
  While he built a long and valuable career in service to our 
warfighters, Mike Devine still found time to give back to his home 
community. In 1992, he was elected to a four year term on the Sparta, 
New Jersey, Township Council and was reelected in 1996. He also served 
as Mayor in 1994 and 2000.
  Mr. Speaker, I have just outlined a public service career of 
exceptional quality. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Mike 
Devine for his many contributions to our national security. We wish 
Mike and his family ``Godspeed'' in the months and years ahead.

                          ____________________